The former Vice President’s aide, Reno Omokri has submitted of foreseeing a better future for Nigeria in the next year of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Omokri who on X made the submission, said though his Boss, Atiku Abubakar, who was the 2023 People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate would have been a better President and Nigeria would have gained more under him as their leader.
According to him, “Obviously, Nigerians are experiencing challenging times, but nations do not succeed overnight. They do so over time, and with the policies he has put in place, I foresee a better future for Nigeria in the next year or the Tinubu administration”.
Omokri with the title: Tinubu’s First Year in Office: Has Nigeria Gained or Lost? explained that in President Tinubu’s first year in office, his decisions taken must have caused short -term pains but will bring long-term gains, namely is the removal of subsidy.
He pressed further that this is a courageous decision that is bearing fruit, adding that fuel imports are down more than 54%, and local refining is up. “Yes, it has caused shocks, but those shocks were necessary to wake us up from our reverie of almost total dependence on imports for our fuel needs. Additionally, local refining is up nearly 20%”.
Omokri noted that the Naira flotation has also brought temporary sadness but looks sure to produce permanent gladness. “It is forcing Nigerians to look inwards, by making imports more expensive and is reducing the pressure on our foreign reserves”, he said.
Speaking of infrastructure, he said the President has done well in completing projects begun by his predecessors, including the Abuja Metro, the Outer Southern Expressway, and the Independence and Constitution Avenue, amongst others.
Omokri said Tinubu’s initiation and commencement of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project is commendable. “Not only is it the single largest infrastructural project in Nigeria’s history.
“It looks set to expand our GDP by making it easier, less expensive and shorter to travel around Nigeria and especially her port cities. The more effortless movement of people, goods and services will make Nigerians wealthier when the project is completed.
He admitted that the Tinubu government facilitation of direct flights for a Nigerian carrier, Air Peace, to have direct flights from Nigeria to London is a significant feat that gives Nigerians a less expensive alternative and projects the nation positively.
He commended the commencement of the Student Loan program which he said it is a breath of fresh air to Nigerian students, adding that, though it would have made more sense for the project to fund STEM education as a priority.
“Rather than obsolete social sciences and humanities courses, Sociology, Philosophy, Anthropology, Linguistics, Religious Studies, Political Science, etc, which Nigerians like to study in our hundreds of thousands, though they are irrelevant to our developmental challenges as a nation.
In security, Omokri also addmitted that the administration has not done poorly, while commended the National Security Officer especially.
He said, “The most notorious bandit leaders have been killed, including Boderi Isyaku, Ali Kachala and Sani Dangote. And the Abuja- Kaduna road, as well as the railway, are now safe to journey on. The Northeast is almost back to normal”.
He recalled in 2023, Nigeria had a Global Terror Index Score of 8.065, adding that this year, the score is 7.575. “Our best score in over eight years. Even the international community is noticing”, he hailed.
Pressing further in governance, Omokri stated that Nigerians are experiencing peaceful Executive-Legislative relations, unlike the reign of Buhari’s turbulent first year with the Saraki-led National Assembly.
He boldly said that Tinubu’s government has shown a low tolerance for corruption while reminded Nigerians of a week of a Minister of Humanitarian Affairs being accused.
“The President suspended Betta Edu and encouraged her investigation by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Buhari would never have done that. He displayed a spectacular failure to supervise his ministers.
“And when the cash for degrees scandal erupted, the administration was quick to take action by suspending all the schools and degrees involved, especially those from Benin Republic. If my memory serves me, that happened in under a week” he said.
In his conclusion, Omokri said it’s obvious, Nigerians are experiencing challenging times, but also added that nations do not succeed overnight. “They do so over time, and with the policies he has put in place, I foresee a better future for Nigeria in the next year or the Tinubu administration”.
On May 29, 2023, President Bola Tinubu was sworn in as the President of Nigeria and in his inaugural address, he announced the end of the fuel subsidy and brought in some policies and decision that have defined his administration thus far.
